My BTL properties are let out to an ex para, and an elderly Gurkha couple. They are very happy with the rent they pay, and are perfect tenants. It works really well for both of us. I get about 3.5% net ROI and they get a lovely flats with secure entry phones and gated secure parking.
For some it's just a case of having savings that cannot, currently, return better than 3%,before tax, after investing for 5 years. The banks are saying that the FTSE will rise between 10-15% this year, but how many will be prepared to gamble on this?